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Over 500 aviation stakeholders from across Africa and beyond are converging on Abuja for the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition, with discussions expected to focus on building more efficient, resilient and technology-driven airports across the continent.
The week-long gathering, which also incorporates ACI Africa’s 76th Board and Committee Meetings, will be held from September 19 to 25, 2026, under the theme, “Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.”
Secretary-General of ACI Africa, Ali Tounsi, who briefed journalists in Abuja, said more than 40 speakers would participate in the conference, examining challenges confronting African airports and strategies for preparing the industry for the future.
Tounsi said the discussions would go beyond infrastructure and financing to digitalisation, environmental preparedness, skilled manpower and development of the next generation of aviation professionals.
“So, this conference is to make airports and people aware about the challenges and how we can phase off these through committees, expertise – experts can come to discuss and to help us and at the end, we will fully have a clear idea of how we will face the future of airports in Africa,” he said.
Tounsi said Nigeria was hosting the continental gathering for the third time, having previously hosted it in Lagos in 2010 and 2017.
“This is the third event in Nigeria. We made it first in 2010 and 2017 in Lagos and now, we are back in Abuja,” he said.
He described Nigeria as one of Africa’s major aviation markets and an important player in West Africa, saying developments in the country could have significant influence on the wider regional aviation industry.
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“Nigeria can influence the region and be very visible and can demonstrate what they can do for the aviation and for the airport sector to Africa and to the region.
“So, it is not a coincidence that we are here. We are here because together, we can demonstrate that airports in Africa can do better and we can take an example of what is happening in Nigeria,” Tounsi said.
Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Vice President of ACI Africa, Olubunmi Kuku, said extensive preparations had gone into hosting the conference.
“We have had a significant number of individuals, over a hundred people from the Nigerian side, working very closely with ACI Africa to ensure that, one, whatever arrangements we make for this 35th annual general assembly, they give their best in terms of experience,” Kuku said.
She expressed confidence that the event would be hitch-free, given the level of preparation and coordination by the organisers.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee and FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, said delegates had already started arriving in Abuja ahead of the main programme.
“Delegates have started arriving, and we are particularly delighted to have with us early Mr. Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa, and members of his team, who have arrived ahead of the main programme to support the final preparations,” he said.
Agbebire said Kuku’s position as FAAN chief executive and Vice President of ACI Africa reflected Nigeria’s participation and leadership role in the continental airport community.
